Can a S/C '96 LC tow ~9k lbs? (1 Viewer)

[Junk]

I once towed about 12k lbs with mine about 1 year ago. Damn nervous ride on that. Would not do it again.

 

[Cards81fan]

So... what's the highest capacity a Tundra can tow (which I am too lazy to look up )?

 

[GXO]

9K is perfectly happy behind my tow rig.

I would never pull it in an 80.

 

[cruiserdan]

So... what's the highest capacity a Tundra can tow (which I am too lazy to look up )?

7,200 lbs

 

[basalt51]

Wilee -

As is the custom here, I think folks are trying hard to be kind and not insulting. Allow me to be a bit more direct: they are telling you that you are nuts to tow 9K with a cruiser, no matter how you've outfitted it. Take them at their word on this--it may save your life and those around you.

I realize that you may not want to hear that message, which is why you keep saying that it's "something else to ponder". I don't think there's much to ponder about this. It's dangerous in a big way. It may not fit in with what you hoped for with the cruiser, but at least you'll be alive as will the other passengers in your truck.

^What he said ^

 

[Breck]

9K with a L/C? Take the 5K you are talking about upgrading and like others mentioned buy an old 3/4 or 1 ton. How about a home equity loan?

 

[alaskacruiser]

If you are willing to spend $5k on upgrades, spend it on one of these instead and have a *safer*, infinitely more capable tow vehicle:

http://autotrader.com/findacar/resu...on=n&make=FORD&address=90503&search_type=used

 

[semlin]

you should change the title of this thread to "should I drive around without any insurance?" because it amounts to the same thing unless you want to try to get your state to approve a higher tow rating for this vehicle.

 

[yomama]

so your the one (yomama) I remembered from the SOR bb a couple years back. When they shut it down, I stopped looking around. But I do remember seeing a pic of this big a$$ honkin boat behind a LC and kept that in mind when I started this thread.

So when you say "scary", do you mean 'squirrely" when driving? Do you have an anti-sway bar? And/or do you mean "scary" when braking even though you said you have trailers brakes (which all toy-haulers now have). How long have you been hauling this boat and how often (ie 1/mo, 6/yr, etc.?).

I understand and appreciate everyone's input. What I'm trying to understand is that IF I do use a load leveler, change to OME stiffer springs, maybe add rear airbags (if necessary), upgrade my hitch to class IV, I already have an electronic brake controller for trailer brakes, AND finally add a S/C , whats the maximum tow capacity of this '96 FJ80 would be.

As far as safety is concerned, I believe thats 80% driver. Just to get everyone going, could you (yomama) post that pic of the LC w/the SS Titanic on the back. From what I remember, its very impressive.

Again, thanks for all the great input everybody.

Sorry it took me so long to respond....I didn't hear you callin

Anyway, you can go out to my website at yomama I can't recall the exact link. You can find it.
I have my cruiser setup with OEM heavy springs, no air bags (yet) thinking about it, cause she does bottom sometimes when I hit a dip or bump in the road. That is when it gets scary is when she gets to bouncing. I don't feel 100% safe pulling it with the cruiser, it is more like the boat is in charge and the cruiser is just kind of guiding it. Even the modifications I had to make to the trailer last year I probably added a couple hundred extra pounds. I have no idea exactly what the weight is, but the boat dry is 5800lbs, then add 70 gallons of fuel at 400lbs 20 gallons of water, gear and supplies, plus the trailer weight. The only sway bar is the one built onto the cruiser, no load level either.
Having to stop quick or having to swerv (how you spell that?) could be bad.
I really don't understand how they come up with these towing numbers, especially when I compare my cruiser to a durango that is said to tow 7700lbs. My cruiser is wider and longer then a durango, so I don't know. Like I said I would not recommend it myself and am considering selling the cruiser for something able to tow the boat (looking at the dodge power wagon!) or getting a smaller boat. I love them both though

Yomama

 

[Bryan E.]

I don't understand your hauling weight figures of 9000 lbs. Are you talking about hauling two fourwheelers? Even with fuel and support gear, I would expect with the largest rigs they are still less than 1000 lbs. each.
How much of your pulling weight is trailer and have you considered getting an aluminum trailer? I don't know if it's an option or even how much it would save in weight, and how much it would cost. Maybe there's some options on scaling down what your hauling and still have toys and your rig.

 

[Beowulf]

 

[Riley]

B - nice boat and nice lawn. Thought it was a desert down there.

 

[Beowulf]

That's yomama's rig. We would have to drive 1,500 miles to get somewhere to launch that barge.

-B-

 

[wileetoyote]

I don't understand your hauling weight figures of 9000 lbs. Are you talking about hauling two fourwheelers? Even with fuel and support gear, I would expect with the largest rigs they are still less than 1000 lbs. each.
How much of your pulling weight is trailer and have you considered getting an aluminum trailer? I don't know if it's an option or even how much it would save in weight, and how much it would cost. Maybe there's some options on scaling down what your hauling and still have toys and your rig.

The 9k lbs came from the particular toy hauler i have my eye on. Its dry weight is 6.4k lbs. add two quads at 350 lbs each, a pump station, options, ~1k lbs of other (water, luggage, and fuel) and I'm somewhere over 8k lbs.

If I went with the smallest and lightest toy hauler, I could shave off 1K lbs. but i'd still be over 7k lbs. and wouldn't be camping (if you could call it that) in style. Maybe if I'd have said that in the first place, certain people wouldn't have flipped out.

Like yomama said, a Durango advertises 7700 lbs tow capacity. The 2004 LC 100's also advertises 7700 lbs. My original suspicions on why an FJ80 was only rated for 5k was the Class III hitch since that's only rated for 5k lbs. I figured Toyota was being conservative and wouldn't advertise beyond the weakest point. Remember, that was ~8 yrs ago before the 'tow wars' started between all the truck mfr's. I suspected another reason for the increase in tow capacity of the LC 100 was the V8. Thats why I asked the question "with a s/c, ... what could an Fj80 tow" but I only got a couple of real responses that helped.

Oh well.

 

[ace10]

this appears to be the classic case of someone's gonna due what they want to do, regardless of logic, rule of law and laws of physics...

if you decide to head east of the Mississippi, please let us know, so that we can give a wide berth.

 

[77fj40]

Please tell me your not going to tow 9k with your fzj80. If you are please contact me with the AZ state patrol non emergency number. Actually, towing twice the rated weight constitutes an emergency, so would someone in AZ call 911 if he decides to do this.

 

[Rainy Day FZJ]

Get a smaller trailer!

I have a 18' toy hauler that weights 3800 lbs empty. Add two sport quads and I never pull it with any more than 10-15 gallons of water, just enough to use the crapper. I would guess that I am pushing the 4500 area and 490 tounge weight. Set your sights WAY! lower on weight or just keep living the american dream " It's not the total price, It's the monthly payments right"?

BTW I have the trailer brakes and the airbags, I have learned to slow without the blower, yet that will be the next big purchase.

 

[Rainy Day FZJ]

P.S. thank you for the high insurance rates, when you pile your junk up on the highway, take pictures and post them so we can say we told you so...

 

[alaskacruiser]

wilee- I repeat: mid-nineties F350 (or similar), $5k. Can you do me a favor and explain why this won't work for you and why you are determined to overload your Cruiser instead? When you can get a real tow vehicle that is RATED to tow WELL OVER 9k for the same amount of money you are willing to spend to upgrade your Cruiser which can BARELY tow half that, why are you stuck on upgrading?? I get the impression it is because this is something you "want to see your Cruiser do" instead of another vehicle, which is pretty absurd.

 

[Beowulf]

WileToyote,

I am not suggesting that you ignore the US rating but it appears you're going to so here is some information that may help with your decision.

The european versions of our US 80's are rated at 3500 kg which is ~7700 lbs. They have a few features that would help with higher towing weights. Most came with in-cabin headlamp adjustment. They probably came with a higher rated hitch. The legal system is different in Europe so that may have something to do with the lower tow rating we got on US 80s.

I believe it would be rational to assume you could tow up to 7,700 lbs with proper equipment. Additional power (turbo or S/C) will help with the pulling; trailer brakes would help with the stopping; stiffer springs and air bags would help with the cruising. This info means you'll need to keep your toys under 8k.


[insert blah blah ... disclaimer here]


-B-